Only We Know: A Review

By: Setheleh Liam G. Ramos

Graphics by: Azi Dayao

Photo: Courtesy of Cornerstone Productions

In an age where relationships are defined by labels, many often oversimplify the complex bonds between people, the connection that only those within the relationship can truly understand.

Having been in the making for seven years, Irene Villamor’s romantic drama “Only We Know” challenges the traditional conventions of love with Dingdong Dantes and Charo Santos-Concio headlining as Ryan and Betty, respectively, as they transcend their relationship into something beyond others’ perception. Being veterans in the industry, Dantes and Santos delivered phenomenal performances depicting the tale of two aimlessly wandering souls finding solace in each other’s company as they cope with their own emotional scars—a slow burn that develops a relationship rooted in understanding and a reflection on the loneliness that comes with loss and age.

Betty is a divorced and retired college English professor past her 60s who builds a bond with her neighbor Ryan, an engineer in his 40s coping with the loss of his late wife. Their relationship starts off slow after Ryan helps Betty carry her groceries after dropping them in the middle of their street, which she then offers him to have for dinner—soon turning to daily visits. The film tackles mortality and grief with finesse, portraying the dirty nature of the healing process without romanticizing the rut Betty and Ryan were in—rather, it romanticizes the mundanity of their friendship: they talk, they eat, they get drunk.

The film’s greatest highlight is the chemistry and dialogue between the two, brimming with personality, grounded conversations, and relatability. With their best moments captured in long and uninterrupted medium shots, and their back-and-forth chats unaccompanied by music, it hooks the audience into wanting to see more of their dynamic on the screen. Exemplified with how the pair often fail to mention the age gap in their conversations, the movie addresses this ‘atypical’ dynamic through the rawness of their conversations instead of explicitly confronting the elephant in the room.

In one of the pivotal moments of their relationship, the film used Ryan’s awkward attempt at a kiss to Betty after a night out to solidify the idea that what they had is not romantic; that whatever void the passing of his wife left him cannot be replaced by a new relationship. Having Ryan not be swayed by this and instead form a deeper connection showcased through his body language after the attempt was an excellent way to depict emotional realization. Throughout their relationship, Betty’s friend Cora and ex-husband question the label of their relationship, in which she ultimately snaps back during one of their last confrontations in the movie saying that they are “good friends,” showing that what they are is not a concern to others’ romantic expectations.

The subthemes added layers of depth to the characters and the story, like Betty’s struggles on her womanhood, Ryan’s different subtle ways for coping, and exploring life after youth. From the silent shots of how the two live their day-to-day lives, sharing their lived traumas delivered through organic dialogue, and the still shots of their households portrays so much of their distinct personalities—a testament to Director Villamor’s stylistic choices as a filmmaker.

Ryan nor Betty do not forget who they are as they kindle their relationship, how they dealt with healing was their own, and what they are to each other never defined who they are as individuals. Having such a grief-stricken character like Ryan to move on so fast from losing his wife for the sake of plot would have thrown off many of the audience, but the film wisely took its time to deliberately develop the relationship.

The film is perfectly unique—a bold outlier in a sea of Filipino romance stories. The idea that a partner must be an individual’s other half is a notion often romanticized but presents the wrong idea. “Only We Know” is a film that reels the audience in with its cheeky premise and makes them leave wondering what a relationship truly is. Its use of the theme musical score “Sariling Mundo” by TJ Monterde during Betty and Ryan’s initial connections makes the audience feel for their special connection as they sink into their own world free from outside judgment.

If you’re looking for a unique film about personal growth, developing deep bonds, and on how to deal with loneliness, “Only We Know” is a must watch. Director Villamor perfectly showcased the complex story of Betty and Ryan and how social expectations impede relationships bound by a deep and mutual understanding. It’s nothing, yet everything to them. Perhaps it's just the company that they needed at the time, perhaps it's a relationship that bloomed into something more—as the movie title suggests—only they know.

Rating: 4.8/5